A new therapeutic proposal for writer’s cramp

a case report

Authors

  • Flavia Quadros Boisson Waissman Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and Universidade Federal Fluminense
  • João Santos Pereira Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and Universidade Federal Fluminense
  • Osvaldo José Moreira Nascimento Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and Universidade Federal Fluminense

Keywords:

Writer’s cramp, Focal dystonia, Dystonic disorders, Movement disorders, Handwriting

Abstract

CONTEXT: Writer’s cramp is a kind of focal hand dystonia that appears when individuals are writing. Since pharmacological treatment has not shown the desired therapeutic response, a study on immobilization of the damaged musculature was performed on two individuals with writer’s cramp, using splints with the objective of reducing the handwriting abnormalities. CASE REPORT: Two patients presenting writer’s cramp who had previously undergone different therapies, including botulinum toxin, without an adequate response, participated in a body awareness program, followed by immobilization of the hand musculature damaged by dystonia, by means of splints, with handwriting training. At the end of the procedure, objective and subjective improvements in the motor pattern of writing could be observed. The immobilization of the dystonic musculature of the hand by means of splints and the motor training of handwriting helped to improve and consequently to reduce the dystonic component observed in the writer’s cramp.

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Author Biographies

Flavia Quadros Boisson Waissman, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and Universidade Federal Fluminense

MSc. Physiotherapist, Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

João Santos Pereira, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and Universidade Federal Fluminense

MD, PhD. Adjunct professor of Neurology, Head of Movement Disorders Section, Department of Neurology, Pedro Ernesto University Hospital, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Osvaldo José Moreira Nascimento, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and Universidade Federal Fluminense

MD, PhD. Titular professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Published

2010-03-03

How to Cite

1.
Waissman FQB, Pereira JS, Nascimento OJM. A new therapeutic proposal for writer’s cramp: a case report. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2010 Mar. 3 [cited 2025 Mar. 16];128(2):96-8. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/1725

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Section

Case Report